U.S. Coast Guard Lieutenant (Lt.) Sonha “Sonny” Gomez is the first participant in the newly-inaugurated Port of Portland Senior Industry Externship Program. Lt. Gomez will be working at the Port from Oct. 6 through Nov. 14.
Lt. Gomez, a 2008 graduate of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, N.Y., elected to pursue a career as a commissioned officer in the Coast Guard after graduation. Lt. Gomez is currently stationed at Marine Safety Unit Portland. Previously she was the Assistant Senior Investigator for the Marine Safety Unit in Houma, La., where she had been stationed since 2010. Prior to that she was stationed on the 378-foot U.S. Coast Guard Cutter CHASE, where she served as Fire Control Officer and Navigation Division Officer.
She has been granted permission to work with the Port’s Marine Operations team for the next month as part of a U.S. Coast Guard program that places young officers in marine industry settings so that they are exposed to the practices, issues, and needs encountered by the commercial stakeholders with whom they will be working throughout their military careers.
“This is an excellent opportunity for both Lt. Gomez and the Port of Portland,” said Vince Granato, chief operating officer for the Port. “We have welcomed her aboard and look forward to working with her throughout the month ahead.”